46 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
View submission: ELI5:What or Who is a 'Circlejerk'?
"Jerking" is a reference to masturbation. A "circle jerk" would be a bunch of people sitting together pleasuring themselves. This is used as a euphemism for a community reinforcing their own opinions and "patting themselves on the back".
Comment by VerticalLegion at 08/07/2013 at 15:23 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I just had the "bunch of people sitting together pleasuring themselves" image in my mind. Ugh.
Comment by anonymous_potato at 08/07/2013 at 19:45 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I think the word you're looking for is an analogy.
A euphemism is suppose to make something more pleasant sounding. I don't think a group of people masturbating in a circle is a more pleasant image than a community reinforcing their own opinions, although I understand how the internet works, so I might be in the minority about this.